Christmas Wishes and a Peek into 2025

Sunbeams pierce through evergreen branches adorned with bright red poinsettia flowers, creating dramatic rays of golden light. The sunburst effect illuminates dust particles in the air, whilst the green foliage and red flowers are beautifully backlit, creating a magical Christmas atmosphere. The composition features rich bokeh effects in the background, adding to the festive warmth.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vzqPAmSBy92gbbXAe7XyO Unlike many podcasters who take a break over Christmas, I'm not taking breaks. Instead, as I do every year, I'm publishing a special episode with seasonal wishes and, most importantly, with a big thank you to all of you for being here with me, subscribing to the podcast whether on a podcast app or … Continue reading Christmas Wishes and a Peek into 2025 →

192: EU Green Policy – The Science-Politics Divide with Faustine Bas-Defossez

An abstract digital network or circuit design overlaid on a vibrant green background. The design features light green geometric shapes - primarily circles and rectangles - interconnected by straight lines and paths, creating a pattern reminiscent of a circuit board or network diagram. The background has a soft, organic bokeh effect with varying shades of green and subtle blue tints, creating a contrast between the natural, blurred background and the precise, technical overlay. This combination suggests a theme of technology harmonising with nature, or digital systems existing within an organic environment. The overall composition has a modern, technological aesthetic while maintaining a natural, organic feel through its colour palette and background texture.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/504BGYFynHK6IWxMuEljWL How much influence do personal experiences of high-ranking officials have on EU environmental policies? What happens when science-based conservation collides with political interests? Can farmers and environmentalists find common ground in nature restoration? In this episode, I talk to Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director for Nature, Health and Environment at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), who … Continue reading 192: EU Green Policy – The Science-Politics Divide with Faustine Bas-Defossez →

191: Rewilding Myths and Misconceptions with Ian Parsons

Book cover of 'Great Misconceptions: Rewilding Myths and Misunderstandings' edited by Ian Parsons. The cover features a nature photograph of golden grass or wheat stalks backlit by sunlight, creating a warm, ethereal atmosphere. The text is overlaid on a dark navy blue panel at the bottom of the image.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EJuOQQZYq7IDewk89lFrQ?si=2e974059d8234521 What exactly is rewilding? Does it simply mean bringing back wolves, lynx and bears, or is there more to it? Can we balance food production and rural community needs with land left to natural processes and wildlife conservation? To answer these questions, I talk with Ian Parsons, editor of "Great Misconceptions: Rewilding Myths and … Continue reading 191: Rewilding Myths and Misconceptions with Ian Parsons →

190: The Geopolitics of Whale Conservation with Peter Corkeron

Commercial whaling vessel docked at a harbor, showing large red circular harpoon reels and a yellow A-frame structure mounted on deck. The ship flies a Greenlandic flag and has industrial whaling equipment visible. The harbor scene includes a modern city skyline with a distinctive building visible in the background across calm waters on a partly cloudy day. Image by Bernd Hildebrandt from Pixabay.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5i1mWPIBkTzOErZo25fszA Is the resumption of commercial whaling inevitable? What hidden geopolitical forces are shaping international whale conservation efforts? Let's dive (pun not intended) into the complex world of whale conservation with marine scientist Dr Peter Corkeron. In our conversation, Peter uncovers the surprising connections between military bases, national security, and the fate of the world's … Continue reading 190: The Geopolitics of Whale Conservation with Peter Corkeron →

189: Climate Anxiety and Presence Activism with Lynne Sedgmore

https://open.spotify.com/episode/31zMPFPcPwU8M7xEonLpHm Do you feel climate anxiety? Is it overwhelming you? How do we find peace while being bombarded with dire environmental predictions? In an attempt to answer these questions, I talk with Lynne Sedgmore, a well-known educator, leadership coach, activist and the author of the book "Presence Activism: A Profound Antidote to Climate Anxiety". https://youtu.be/FAKnYJU0ziQ … Continue reading 189: Climate Anxiety and Presence Activism with Lynne Sedgmore →

188: Peer Review Reimagined – How Stacks Journal is Transforming Scientific Publishing

A dimly lit office or archive room with towering stacks of papers and documents scattered across a desk. The centrepiece is a precariously tall pile of white papers, illuminated by soft, diffused light streaming through unseen windows. The background shows blurred outlines of bookshelves and filing cabinets, suggesting a vast repository of information. The image evokes themes of bureaucracy, information overload, or investigative work.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4EpYoUA7VQxkIBZM2g3Hrn?si=9107bdefa8dc4510 Is scientific publishing broken? How can we make it more accessible and inclusive? And what if peer review could be collaborative and efficient instead of opaque and burdensome? In this episode, we dive into the world of academic publishing with Dr David Green, founder of Stacks Journal. We talk about how the current system … Continue reading 188: Peer Review Reimagined – How Stacks Journal is Transforming Scientific Publishing →

187: Soil, Dung Beetles, and Longhorn Beef with Elise Sutton

English Longhorn cattle in a grassy field. On the left, a cow with large curved horns stands prominently, its brown and white patched coat visible. To the right, another cow with a lighter coat and yellow ear tag looks directly at the camera. Behind them, two more cattle can be seen grazing. The background shows a clear blue sky and autumn trees, creating a pastoral countryside scene.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2AcYu75pxYHjEFOFXXr0Of Can farming and conservation coexist harmoniously? How can farmers produce high-quality food while protecting biodiversity? Elise Sutton, a passionate conservationist and livestock manager at Cherry Lodge Farm, shares her experience in balancing food production with nature conservation. Elise talks about conservation grazing using English Longhorn cattle on a 650-acre farm that includes a Site … Continue reading 187: Soil, Dung Beetles, and Longhorn Beef with Elise Sutton →

186: Climate-Resilient Crops – Gene Editing with BetterSeeds and Ido Margalit

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hXjTYu2gfnt37EKLULHr3 What are the latest advancements in gene editing for crops? How can genetic engineering help plants withstand climate change? Is genetically modified food safe for consumption? To answer these questions, I talk with Ido Margalit, a co-founder and the CEO of BetterSeeds, a plant genetics company focused exclusively on using genome editing/CRISPR technology for … Continue reading 186: Climate-Resilient Crops – Gene Editing with BetterSeeds and Ido Margalit →

185: Farmers’ Perspective on Carnivore Reintroductions with Jonny Hanson

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4zglYTuVc3e21c943KDYu0 Can large carnivore conservation coexist with livestock farming? In this episode, environmental social scientist Jonny Hanson and I discuss the complex issue of large carnivore reintroductions in Britain and Ireland. What are farmers' perspectives on sharing landscapes with predators like wolves and lynx? How can we balance conservation goals with the realities of modern … Continue reading 185: Farmers’ Perspective on Carnivore Reintroductions with Jonny Hanson →

184: Novel Ecosystems and Nature-Based Solutions with Marcus Collier

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pIE8ImVDkkEbfMUJSNeqX Are humans part of nature or separate from it? How do we define native species, and should we always strive to eradicate invasive ones? Can urban green spaces play a role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss? And what is the Anthropocene anyway? These are only some of the questions I discussed with … Continue reading 184: Novel Ecosystems and Nature-Based Solutions with Marcus Collier →